Lamar Alexander

Andrew Lamar Alexander, Jr. (born July 3, 1940) is an American politician. He was a United States senator from Tennessee from 2003 to 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party. Alexander was conference chair of the Republican Party in the US Senate from 2007 to 2012.

Lamar Alexander
United States Senator from Tennessee
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2021
Preceded by	Fred Thompson
Succeeded by	Bill Hagerty
27th Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference
In office December 2007[1] – January 26, 2012
Leader	Mitch McConnell
Preceded by	Jon Kyl
Succeeded by	John Thune
5th United States Secretary of Education
In office March 22, 1991 – January 20, 1993
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Lauro Cavazos
Succeeded by	Richard Riley
45th Governor of Tennessee
In office January 16, 1979 – January 17, 1987
Lieutenant	John S. Wilder
Preceded by	Ray Blanton
Succeeded by	Ned McWherter
Personal details
Born	Andrew Lamar Alexander (1940-07-03) July 3, 1940 Maryville, Tennessee, US
Nationality	United States
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Honey Buhler (m. 1969)[2]
Children	4
Residence	Nashville, Tennessee, US
Alma mater	Vanderbilt University (B.A.) New York University School of Law (J.D.)
Occupation	President of the University of Tennessee Professor at Harvard Kennedy School
Profession	Attorney
Website	www.alexander.senate.gov

He unsuccessfully ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996 and 2000.

In December 2018, Alexander announced his retirement from the Senate by not running in the 2020 election.[3]